The annual competition and festival brings together high schools of the Big Northern Conference in Illinois to compete in a wide range of Visual Art categories. Due to restrictions in 2021 the show and competition has been held virtually and categories and entries have been limited to 35 entries per school in 15 categories. This year's show contains 205 works across these 15 categories.
2021 competing schools: Bryon, Genoa-Kingston, Mendota, Oregon, Rock Falls, Rockford Christian, Rockford Lutheran, Winnebago |
About this year's judges:
Dr. Lisa Kastello
Lisa Kastello taught high school art for 15 years. She has her doctorate in curriculum leadership with a background in online program development. Dr. Kastello developed and implemented a completely online masters program for K-12 art teachers, consults with education programs concerning the development of online programs and with individuals who are rewriting their face-to-face courses for hybrid or online platforms. Dr. Kastello currently teaches for the Art of Education while creating and exhibiting her own artwork.
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Sydni Reubin
Sydni Reubin was born in Dixon, IL & graduated from Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in May 2009. That spring, she participated in Creative Fusion - a fundraiser for the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design - to raise funds for the school's student scholarship fund. After a bidding war, she agreed to do two portraits instead of one, raising $11,000 for the school. She has since shown her work regionally, nationally, and internationally. Since graduating from MIAD she has won numerous awards for her work, including Best in Show at the Grand Detour Arts Festival in 2013, and Best in Show at the Phidian Art Exhibit in Dixon, IL in 2018. Also in 2018, Reubin received the $2000 Greg G. Thielen Memorial Award at the Watercolor USA exhibition at Springfield Art Museum for her piece “Two Ones”. Reubin has also done work as a courtroom sketch artist for CNN. When asked about Reubin's ability, CNN producer Chris Murphey said, "Sydni Reubin is talented. She can sketch fast and sketch well in what can be a very difficult environment to capture a scene. Imagine what she can do on a project that doesn't come with a breakneck-speed deadline of a news organization." She currently lives and paints in Plattsburgh, NY.
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